Marja Bergen

author, mental health advocate, follower of Christ

Category: Mental Health and Faith (page 27 of 41)

Crucified

  I know I wasn’t going to write any more of my story. I claimed that I had recovered. However, traumatic memories don’t go away so easily. Writing whenever I felt bad was helpful. But yesterday bad memories – especially one – came back, leaving me weeping in church. And I had nowhere to go […]

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Beyond memories: creating a new reality

  (Written in January 2017) Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:21-22   Jesus knew all about forgiving. He came to do a […]

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And yet…

LIVING ROOM MEMORIES  277  (April 20, 2010) Psalms 42 and 43 which we studied at our last Living Room Bible study sure hit home for those of us there. We could relate to the psalmists’ laments. We could relate for the thirsting after God expressed in the opening verses: “As the deer pants for streams […]

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We’re not cats

  And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14   A few minutes ago, I watched my cat as she lay in a shaft of warm sunshine washing herself. It occurred to me how we humans […]

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Developing church acceptance

LIVING ROOM MEMORIES   265 (February 6, 2010) While away recently I had a lot of time to think, to read, and to journal. I came to the conclusion that I need to focus my energy on the things that are going to do the most good. And I need to delegate the things that sap […]

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Dignity and worth

  When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews […]

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A God-shaped void

  What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:8   The other night I had a most uncomfortable feeling, one I’ve frequently experienced in the […]

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We were at a National Conference

LIVING ROOM MEMORIES  255 (November 6, 2009) An exciting thing is happening for Living Room at the end of the month. We have been accepted to present a 4’x8′ poster at the Into the Light: Transforming Mental Health in Canada conference at the Hotel Vancouver. This is a national conference put on by the Mental […]

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Never completely stable

LIVING ROOM MEMORIES  244  (July 9, 2009) Yesterday morning I was reminded of the fact that I will never be a completely stable person. I thought God had answered my prayers and the prayers of my friends, bringing me to a return of joy and – I thought – stability. However, I’ve discovered that the […]

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The child in me (2019)

I’ve been a child. Still am one. Eager to create. Eager to learn. Eager to give. Eager to love and be loved. In a situation where a person you look up to shows love as you would have liked to be loved as a child, the child in you might very well appear. The adult […]

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